Closet Essentials and Mad Men Dreams

Hello all!

I'm so sorry for my absence as of late. It's been a rather busy week between the two jobs and getting my fall schedule aligned between the two and school as well!

Anyways, I found this on pinterest today and I think it is a spectacular list to use as a jumping off point. Any other additions can be bits and pieces that describe your personality. I printed it out and broke it all down into items that I already have, items I need, and items I both want and need! Surprisingly, I already have over half of the items. The only ones I need are small statement pieces. I'm pretty proud of how much I have improved my closet over the past year.

Anyways, I'm at work watching Mad Men  and dreaming of the days where a trip to the grocery store warranted heels and a hat. You know, every time I fly I think of the days when stewardesses were the classiest working gals around and a trip meant you dressed up out of respect. During my college experience I have tried to pull a little inspiration from that into my wardrobe and I think I'm starting to be fairly well known as the "girl who dresses for success". You wouldn't believe how many professors automatically respect me just because I walk into class in a pencil skirt, blouse and heels.

That said, I'm finding myself inspired to cut my hair into a bob and buy some white gloves. Would that be terribly out of place or what?

-Emily Jo

Tuesday Threads

I'm working the late shift tonight, meaning I need some extreme comfort. However, I still work with all the higher ups for a few hours so I had to look a *little* bit more professional than my idea of real comfort. So here's my "working late, but still trying to look decent" look for Tuesday!

Not bad, but I wish I had taken a little bit more care.My favorite thing about these jeans is that they are so easy to dress up or down. Plus they're extremely comfy. Slap some heels on and it's a win-win!

Funeral OOTD

I received rather mixed reviews when I researched if it was okay to wear white to a funeral. Some said black or grey, some said jewel tones, some said wear whatever you want.

Not exactly the precise answer I was looking for. As I stood in front of my closet this morning, running late, of course, I found myself still drawn to wearing this dress. I feel like it is the perfect combination of class and modern thought. I guess that's what I would want to exude at a funeral, rather than sorrow.

Well. I guess I'll see. The funeral is for a dear friends mother. She was quite the lady and I'm honored to be able to celebrate her life today.

Friday Finds

• My Monday mornings are going to be much happier from now on....

• A coworker showed me this today. Basically it's how they used to teach ambassador's foreign langauges. Since I've been on such a kick lately about reading Philosophy in the original Greek/Latin/German/French/etc this totally made my day! Even better, the text comes in a PDF file so I can put it on my kindle!
• I saw this on Pinterest earlier in the week and it spoke to me on so many levels. Not just my own training in Muay Thai, but also my work life, my home life, and especially my writing life. 
  
• Belle of Capitol Hill Style shared this website on her blog today and I immediately snatched it right up. I love it not only for all the wedding stuff, but the graphic design on the website is absolutely amazing. 
  
  
  
  What gems have you all found this week? It's been a really inspirational week for me between fashion, writing and job opportunities I can't complain!
  
  
  
  

Friday Shoutout!

I really must just spread my love of all things One Note.

When I was a Freshman in college one of my room mates told me she used it for recipes. And I thought why not just use Word? But then I started and now I just can't stop! It is just the sort of organized chaos I need in my life right now. Not only is it amazing because it has different sections for all the things I love taking notes about (work, fashion, writing, etc) but it has sections within sections!

I have a great chunk of it devoted to my writing (ideas, prompts, philosophy, dystopian societies, etc) but also a great little chunk on fashion. I love taking screen clippings from my favorite blogs and adding them to my work looks section or from Pinterest for my "going out" section. Not to mention the screen clippings of Hair ideas from everywhere!

One Note has made a huge difference for this chaotic country girl. The organization is just what I needed to become the classy lady I always dreamed of being. Now if I can just remember to wash the grease off my arms before I go to work...but that's a story for another day!



These opinions are my own and I did not receive any compensation from Microsoft or any subsidiary of Microsoft.

Throwback Thursday: When I Worked In The Legislature

Many moons ago I worked in the Montana State Legislature as a secretary. Boy the stories I have to tell you about what happens behind the scenes and in the cubicles...

The intrigue, the nights at the pub getting hit on my drunk Senators, the experience!

I had such an amazing time there and would do anything to go back. It was quite the moment in my life. In fact I found my old name tag the other day. I was so proud of myself for working there as a barely 18 year old kid. One day I'll be back. Hopefully with "Court Reporter" on my name tag instead of Secretary!

Freelance Writing....For Real This TIme

Today I went into a meeting at City Hall. (dun-dun-dun!) No I'm not in trouble (shocking, yes?). About a month ago I went to a Greeley Young Professionals Meeting in which the City of Greeley unveiled their newest ad campaign entitled "Greeley Unexpected".

I won't lie. I was incredibly impressed by it. It was exactly what Greeley needed. Not an image revamp, but a closer look at what makes Greeley what it is and why we as patrons and citizens of the city should invest ourselves more into it. Afterwards I talked to the woman who presented and told her just that. Somehow we ended up talking shop and there I was sitting in her office today, nervous as heck, sweaty from the drive without A.C. in Brutto and of course exhausted.

And she asked me the most beautiful question a writer could ever hope to hear "Would you be willing to do some writing for our blog?"

YES. YES. YES. OF COURSE. YES.

She asked me a few more questions concerning my schedule and what sort of experience I have. Namely, am I comfortable in front of a camera? From my days in the legislature (both working and testifiying) and as an intern for the Montana Cowboy Poetry Festival doing t.v. commercials and radio interviews you could say I am.

I've been in a slump lately. I won't lie. I don't like my jobs (100% because they don't do anything to further my career) and I'm burned out. Yet today, all those seemingly small things I did in the past prepared me for today, getting one of my first freelance projects. Hearing words like reference letters and portfolios? I'm a big kid! And maybe, all those days I've spent working for Housing and IT will prepare me again in the future.

All of this to say I need to warm up my blogging fingers because it has really been awhile since I devoted any sort of time to the blog realm of writing. I've had a pretty serious itch lately to start fashion blogging. I check my blog lovin' feed on the daily, and I know I dress well enough. The main thing getting in my way?

A camera! With just a phone camera and a mirror that shows my rat cage and generally my dog chewing a bone behind me it doesn't really capture the image I'm looking for. So that's something I'm working on figuring out. Dadblammit if I'm going to waste my life at dead end jobs I may as well get some time in researching while I'm at it!